Maintaining security in U.S. cities, states and borders is a round-the-clock job for domestic law enforcement agents. With new threats emerging every day, keeping a close watch by land, air and sea requires the use and adoption of innovative new technologies, which has included unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in recent years.
UAS technology has enabled U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other agencies to have better eyes and ears on nearly 7,000 miles of land border and 2,000 miles of coastal waters surrounding the U.S., as well as cities and infrastructures throughout the country. Unmanned systems provide an easier means to patrol the borders, conduct surveillance, monitor active events and assess disaster damage, among other tasks.
One if by Land…
To better protect our vast borders, cities and infrastructures, big data and other intelligence-driven operations that provide access to up-to-the second data have become increasingly critical. This is where operational intelligence (OI) technology and applications shine, delivering complete real-time event monitoring and processing that are both easy to deploy and easy to use.
UAS technology operating on an OI platform provides complete real-time situational awareness between command centers and any personnel in the field. This is vital, as UASs monitoring areas with high land-crossing activity in Arizona, for example, requires a single view of information – whether GPS coordinates and weather information or SIGINT and unmanned vehicle mission data – to ensure that all agents have a single view of the area. In the case of any adverse situations, this single view – or common operating picture (COP) – even helps any involved agencies better allocate first responders and other resources before, during and after events.
OI technology also prioritizes how information is processed by the respective systems, making it possible for data relay and analysis in remote areas. Homeland security, border patrol and other law enforcement agents can also perform simulation-based training exercises and post-event analysis to ensure ongoing strategic and tactical development.
…Two if by Sea
The marriage of UAS and OI technology isn’t just for land and air applications, either. With its big data integration capabilities, OI can also aid in monitoring inbound shipping traffic, including document management such as shipping manifests and notifications, to help ensure the safety of maritime environments.
Whether by land, sea or air, U.S. CBP and other agencies need access to up-to-the-second situational data, and effective information management, and OI technology is the unique platform that makes both a reality. These needs are heightened for homeland and border security when the safety of entire cities, states and countries can be at stake, and OI is a key tool for achieving homeland security.
Discover how operational intelligence (OI) technology can help homeland security and other unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) applications take flight. Download our eBook to learn more.
